The New York duo's latest album, 'Liquid Love', is everything you hoped it would be, rich, tuneful, adventurous, and utterly enchanting.

No doubt about it, 'Noise Won't Stop', Shy Child's 2007 breakthrough album, was a pretty aggressive listen. But it was packed with the kind of ripsnorting synth-funk and lean, boistrous pop that pitched the energetic pair - Pete and drummer Nate Smith - somewhere between the White Stripes and Lil Jon.

On the back of the sweaty soul of singles such as 'Drop the Phone' and 'Summer', Shy Child toured the hell out of 2006 and 2007. Inevitably, being touring pals of the Klaxons and with a penchant for brightly coloured t-shirts, they were bundled on to the new-rave bandwagon. But, looking back, who wasn't?

Shy Child reconvened last spring and set about making 'Liquid Love' in the place they've always recorded their albums, Gigantic Studios in New York's Tribeca. Producer Chris Zane (Les Savy Fav, Passion Pit) was again at the helm, and together they spent a few months in the studio teasing out a different side to Shy Child.

Swaddled in electronic production and synthesisers, 'Liquid Love' offers the kind of twinklingly elegant pop that many will welcome after the hectic shrill of 'Noise Won't Stop'. If that album felt rather eager to please, 'Liquid Love' has a warmth and friendliness about it, an easy-going harmonious groove that courses through a suite of tremendous new tunes, from 'Criss Cross' and 'Open Up the Sky' into 'Dark Destiny' and 'E.S.P'. Producing sparkling pop of such exceedlingly high quality, Shy Child sound like a completely different band, revitalised and, arguably, wiser.